Bears Still Rule

First off, can we all agree that the NFL season has truly morphed into a marathon session? That the big score doesn't necessarily always go to the squad displaying LaDainian Tomlinson like speed in terms of getting out of the season-opening gate?

In my preseason prognostications here at Football.com, I predicted the Bears and Chargers were destined to do meaningful battle at some point this season. Thus, my handle on the game should be clearly obvious to one and all, given just a week into the season half my prediction has already played out.

But, being the man of words that I am, it's important that you understand me here, decipher my message in its infinite entirety before you start to castigate its relevance or righteousness. For all you nitpickers and haters, the key utterance in much of what I said lies in the lone word 'meaningful.'

My prediction then goes on to forecast that the two teams would meet in Super Bowl XLII in Arizona, where the Bears would then run roughshod. You need to know that view has not changed.

Be honest, after Sunday's tussle which team had painted more of an image of itself where you were more able to visualize them in Phoenix? Maybe the former is all a byproduct of the latter, but clearly the Bears' defense proved to be as intimidating as it is bruising. And ask yourself this: At its rested and absolute best, is there any other unit in all football that seems more adept at enforcing its will during critical stretches of a game than Coach Lovie Smith's brooding bunch?

Again, I direct you to a key, buzz words born of my last phrase: Absolute, rested best. Yes, the Bears offense must find a way of becoming at least allies to its defense. And, mind you, that doesn't necessarily mean putting up hordes of points, as this team may not lose another game this season if its O can say average 17 points a game.

What the Bears offense must grow to become is purveyors. A unit just good enough to allow its defense to take needed and overly deserved respites during the course of all its games. Remember, as inefficient and turnover prone as the offense was in San Diego on Sunday, the Bears still lead for most of that game and left the field under the cloud they'd let one slip away.

And they did it by pitching a shutout through most of the third quarter, on the road, against arguably the league's best player and against the team that led all the league in total offense last season.

Mark it all down here, the Monsters of the Midway are back. And, though a remix version may soon be in the offing, I for one am making time to dust off my copy of the Super Bowl Shuffle.

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